Propress

Floyd_5

Got a propress tool the other day.....
Then the Ridgid Rep. calls me up, seems he tracked the sale down and wanted to followup on it. Then he starts telling me that there are all kinds of things that I need to know about this tool.... how that it will kick the pipe sometimes, espec. with larger fittings. Also that there are other "tricks" for using the sucker......

For those that already have one.....What do I need to know about this thing before I use it and screw something up????

Thanks for any and all advice!!!

Floyd

Mark Eatherton1

My guys...

use a Sharpie marker to mark the full depth of the fittings, and the exact alignment of the fittings. The fittings move real easy before they're crimped. The marks allow them to confirm proper insertion and alignment before pulling the trigger. Once you pull the trigger, theres no going back,,,

Other than that, I'm not aware of any issues with it. I'll ask them if they have any other tricks up their sleeves. They use it daily now, and so will you.

ME

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Phil_6

pretty much fool proof

Just mark the pipe like they say and go go go.
According to the instructions you can turn the fittings once they are crimped (with wrenches) We've done it, and it works. Just crimp it again for good luck ;-)

John Felciano

My advice

would be to put your fishing pole in the truck.Your going to have more free time with the amount of labor it saves.

t.speed

ProPress

Great tool: 2 minor, very minor inconveniences, The tool makes a 6 sided crimp and when a crimp is made, small "ears" are squeezed out and are very sharp and should be filed, #2 is when handling and setting the tool for a crimp, there is a tendency to fire the trigger at in opportune moments.

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S Ebels

News Flash

I was just talking with the Stadler/Viega rep this afternoon and he mentioned that Viega is bringing a press tool out in June that will handle Pro-Press and Viega's stainless sleeves for pressing Pex fittings on PAP and Pex. They are also bringing a line of press fittings approved for GAS!!! Yes, GAS! That will be awesome. I'll have to run it past the inspectors around here and see if they will let that fly.

Won't be long and we can throw away the threader, torch and solder. The times, they are a changin'.

Ken_8

One quick question.

Are reducing fittings available e.g., 1x1/2" tee? 3/4x1' reducing coupling?

Or even a 3x2x1 tee?

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Floyd_5

Another thing....

the Rep. stated that the tool will beep at me after 2100 crimps and shutdown after 2200... has anyone used their tool that much and had to have it recalibrated????
That doesn't seem like all that many cycles till I have to send it away and get it reset.

Also he stated the they will not stand behind any crimps made with their jaws in another tool, such as the Rems tool. I was thinking that I could use my Wirsbo batt. crimp tool for PAP as a smaller tool to crimp the Propress fitting....the Rep. strongly discouraged that.....

What'll you'all have to say here......

Floyd

S Ebels

RE: Viega/Rems?

> the Rep. stated that the tool will beep at me

> after 2100 crimps and shutdown after 2200... has

> anyone used their tool that much and had to have

> it recalibrated???? That doesn't seem like all

> that many cycles till I have to send it away and

> get it reset.

>

> Also he stated the they will not

> stand behind any crimps made with their jaws in

> another tool, such as the Rems tool. I was

> thinking that I could use my Wirsbo batt. crimp

> tool for PAP as a smaller tool to crimp the

> Propress fitting....the Rep. strongly discouraged

> that.....

>

> What'll you'all have to say

> here......

>

> Floyd

S Ebels

RE: Viega/Rems?

Viega has sued Rems twice in Europe and lost both times on this very issue, which to me means it's not an issue. I heard that right from Leo (the head honcho) at Rems here in the US.

BTW, the Rems tool does the same calibration alert but does it at 10,000 presses with a flashing diode on the grip. It does not shut down. They recommend a yearly inspection regardless of number of crimps. (this is on the Akku-press, Power-press, Ax-press and Akku-EX-Press models)

Floyd_5

Sounds like a real battle .....

going on between these guys.... are we going to benifit or suffer because of it???

S Ebels

The way it sounded to me

The battle is already fought and done. Viega lost both times. Leo explained it by saying that Rems is a tool manufacturer which makes literally hundreds of pressing tools for dozens of different fitting types. It would be the same as Nibco saying you could only use brand X solder or flux on their fittings or Hilti saying their anchors were only warranted if you used their hammer drill. Viega claimed proprietery knowledge in the manufacture of the jaws and tool. Rems said, "We make a heck of a lot more tools than you and we think that's BS, let's go to court."

I have a gut feeling that you will see Rems jaws for ProPress fittings on the market in the near future here in the US.

Jeff Matson_2

cycles and jaw cleaning

The ProPress tool will do 20,000 press cycles before warning you about recalibration, and there's a window of 2,000 more cycles for you to get the maintenance performed.
Also, if you get the "ears" that squeeze out when pressing a connection, that's a sign that the jaws need to be cleaned. A build-up of copper on the jaw tips can cause this, and the jaws can be easily cleaned using ScotchBrite, steel wool, or a steel bristle wire brush.

Jeff Matson
Product Engineer
Viega North America

J.C.A._3

Ken, Floyd and the rest...

With the smaller (1/2-3/4-and 1") fittings pretty much can be held, and made straight.(I have a habit of holding the level on the pipe, room permitting) When we started getting to the "over 2-1/2" fittings, we found that staggering the tool 180° for the top and bottom of the fitting, seemed to pull/push it pretty much into line. If there is room, it seemed to work for us. When the tool was "spacially resticted", we found a firm grip on a wrench could hold it pretty straight, oppossing the pull of the tool.Just a couple observations. Chris

Ken_8

Pro press fittings

Did I miss the answer?

Do they make reducing fittings? e.g., 2X1/2 tees? 3X2X1's?

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Kenny

reducing............

Ken,

The reducing tees are limited especially when using the larger sizes (21/2" and up) The usually will have reducing tees and couplings that go down one size - some two. I've run into this problem with large commercial jobs when you have 4" mains and need to pipe off a 3/4" convector. They dont make a tee so you have to reduce many times down or use a tapped tee with another male adapter. Gets tricky sometimes. Other than that we love it and use it exclusivley

Jamie_6

Ken,

They do make reducing fittings for the Propress! I have used many 1 1/4" x 3/4" tees ect! Although, when you get in to larger diameter piping it may take two or three fittings combined to get you there.

Jamie


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J.C.A._3

Ken,

YES! Most of the "normal fittings" you would be looking for from a distibutor are available. However, you've got to speak with your local supply house to ensure that they will have them.

My suppliers have almost all the fittings that I need, but there are some instances where it just isn't "practical" for them to stock (a box that rests in my shop) ....large and strange fittings.

I've recently found that Propress X male adapters are NOW a stock item. I've also found the "adapters" from larger to smaller sizes are available. (for example...1"PP street x3/4pp adapters)

I've also noticed that most of the pex adapters have been increased in "insertion length" and fit most of the PP fittings available . (BONUS!)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the fitting selection is proportionately stocked as to the requested demand.(I believe the supply houses call this "just in time inventory", now) Express your wants to your supplier, and I'm sure they'll be more than happy to accommodate your requests. They make a good profit on this stuff, and if your happy, they're happy. Ask, and you should be expected to receive. Chris

John Felciano

T Drill

We use a T drill to make most all of our branch fittings.It's a real time and $$ saver when your into the big size mains and small branches.

Constantin

I looked at that technology a few years back

.. and I still cannot figure ou why not more heating contractors are using the T-Drill system. The only good reason I can think of is that they can easily pass on the cost of materials while passing on a overhead investment is more trouble-some.

Just think how much room one T-drill can save in your truck by not having to haul tons of fittings around. A couple of copper tubes in the PVC thingie on the roof, a T-Drill set, and you can build a beautiful manifold anywhere. Perhaps the investment is paid off quicker if you pool the T-drill in a central shop where manifolds are assembled for multiple installer teams...

In my experience, these sorts of tools are usually much more popular in Europe where labor costs are very high, productivity is at a premium, and write-offs are generous. Due the the unintended effects of EU labor laws, people are eliminated wherever possible.

I also like the Pro-press system since it seems to have the same life-expectancy as traditionally fluxed/soldered copper without the flames to make it that much more exciting. My only concern would be that oh-so-important seal that Pro-press uses. From earlier posts, it appears that Entran III is susceptible to chlorine-based breakdown, so I fear that any system relying on seals will be quite dependant on water quality PM.

Perhaps this explains why we're going to have a hybrid DWV system in the house consisting of Schedule 40/80 PVC for the usual horizontal applications while using no-hub Iron for the vertical stacks. I wanted something silent and reliable. Well-glued PVC joints are pretty much bombproof, PVC lets the gunk slip along nicely with minimal pitch, and little can beat the silence of CI in a vertical application (at least if you do not have the room to insulate the heck out of PVC).